Spotting projectiles



Oct. 15, 1946. H. J. NICHOLS SPOTTING PROJECTILES Filed March 21, 1925 Patented Oct. 15, 1946 UNHTE'ED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPOT'IIN G PROJECTILES Harry J. Nichols, Washingtomfl). .C.,. assignor t the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application March 21, 1925, Serial No. 17,427 Renewed November 9,1925

24 Claims. :1

This .invention relates to improvements in method of and apparatus forspotting projectiles, and it more specifically relates to double duty projectiles which accomplish their purpose if they reach their objective, and when they miss their objective they-are made to .serve the important ,function of indicatingtheir point of impact upon the surface of the water such that it may be visible long distances and for a substantial period of time after such impact to aid indirecting subsequent projectiles to their objective.

-.In Patent No. 1,451,395, to Olaf M. Hustvedt and Harry J Nichols, this type of projectile is described and its objects and uses stated-at length. In this previous patent, the arrangement proposed was inbrief to have an ejection charge positioned forwardly of a coloring chargewithin a chamber ofthe projectile, said chamber-being closed rearwardly by a removable baseplug and an igniting means for the ejection charge causing the color :ing charge to be ejected rearwardly 'from .the

projectile at the moment of impact. -While such construction, when providedwith a suitable-igniter or'fuse, accomplished the objects-of the invention, it'was'open to the objection that these parts. occupied most of the space in the projectile,

.so that the'proje'ctiles when so constructed, while valuable for fire control, were of little value :as

missles or explosive carriers.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to improve on the method of spotting and construction of the projectile shownin the above patent and. to provide a simple'method of. spotting and the preferred form of apparatusior practicing said method which will enable the objects of the spotting projectile to be realized in a reinvention provides a cap or windshield fora projectile, adapted to contain a coloring charge, which charge is dispersed into the surrounding water-by the action ofa jet of Water entering the windshield through an aperture at the pointand emerging througha plurality of holes or vents positioned "radially 'around thebase or skirt of the windshield.

Other objects-will be inxpart obvious or in part pointed out in connection with the accompany- .ingtdrawing which. shows two of the various; Possibleembodiments of the invention, and wherein like parts are denoted-by corresponding reference characters.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of the frontend of an armor-piercing projectile embodying the improvements and principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a -target projectile *fittedwitha windshield adapting it-ior use zas a spotting projectile.

:Referring .now to the drawing in :detail, *and more particularly to Figure 1, l designates the forward bodyportionofmy improved projectile, containinglan explosive-chamber closed at the rearby a base plug-Landfuse,all ofthe usual construction and requiring -no detailed showing or description.

The point "of the *armor piercing projectile 4 may be protected by a cap 5, secured to the body in'any desired'way, as for example by the hooks 6 engaging in' a recess extending about said projectile near the base :ofitspoint. The cap :5is surmounted by a'windshield l, :of :any'de'sired shape to bring the'completed projectile to an external streamline form. Thiswindshield '1 is provided 'with'a cavity 8 containing'the coloring charge l9. The windshield may be secured to the cap orbody of the projectile, in any way, as for example bythetthreaded joint II] as shown. The windshield may be integral with the cap, or: even the body, but forbest results should be strongly attached "to the projectile soas not to be 'dislodged when the projectile'strikes the water.

The windshield l has at its'front'end an aperture I! closed externallyzby a frangible disc 12,

sealing'the cavity fl. This discl2 may be held in place by soldering in a recess as shown, or by other suitable means, or it may be integral with the windshield, which 'may'bemade thin at the point so as to be readily pierced by the pressure ofthe water Qn'impact. Around the lower-edge or skirt-of the windshield '1 are a number of radial holes or ventsi 3 closed by detachable plugs or'discs M. These lplugs M are mounted in 'counterbored portions of the vents by peening the metal of the windshield"! lightlyaround their periphery as shown, or in any other desired manner. The essentialrequirement that-the coloring charge 9 be retained 'Within the cavy {3 against the tendency of set-back force .in

the gun and centrifugal force during flight to throw the coloring material from the windshield E. When the projectile strikes the water, the vents it or equivalent must be capable of opening by internal pressure created by Water entering at the point through the aperture l 5, thereby permitting the egress of the coloring charge.

On Figure 2 is shown a target projectile modified for use as a spotting projectile by being fitted with a windshield embodying the principles of the present invention. The parts are substantially the same as above described except the cap 5 of Figure 1 is omitted and the windshield secured directly to the body of the projectile; the same parts being designatedby the same reference characters with the addition of a.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, the operation of my improved projectile is as follows:

On striking the water, the disc [2, see Figure 1 (or lza), is pierced by the water pressure admitting a jet of water into the cavity 8 (or 8a) through the aperture H (or Ila). The entering jet of water creates a high pressure within the windshield l forcing out the plugs hi (or I la), thereby opening up the series of vents for the egress of the water. The water carries the color charge 9 (or 9a) through the vents l3, ejecting it into the water surrounding the projectile, which Water goes to make up the splash of the projectile. The water entering through the aperture H (or Ha) is under great pressure due to the relative velocity of the projectile and the body of water into which it is plunged and scours the coloring material .from the cavity 8 with great force, the tapering front end of cap 5, Figure l (or of shell end la of Figure 2), aids in directing the colored water to the discharge openings l3 outwardly and rearwardly from the projecting shell, This scouring action facilitates the solution of soluble dyestuffs when used as the coloring material, thereby accomplishing the coloring of the splash with great rapidity and thoroughness.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple and practical projectile or an attachment for a projectile adapted to accomplish among others the objects herein set forth.

Many different forms and constructions of apparatus may perform the functions of my most certain and efficient method of spotting the impact point on water of a projectile and of making any usual type of projectile serve the added function of spotting when it misses its objective.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

In the type of shell shown in Figure 2 the pointof-impact indicating chamber la is secured directly about the point of the shell, while in the armor piercing type of shell shown in Figure 1v said chamber '5 is indirectly secured about the point of said shell by being secured to the softer metal cap 5 which is directly secured to the shell.

When shell t strikes armor members l2, 1 and I l crush and eject the large volume of coloring matter into a huge cloud about the point Q4- impact, While the cap mushrooms against and facilitates the piercing of the armor. However the primary object of this invention is to enable the ready detection of the point of impact of projectiles that miss their objective in order that succeeding projectiles may be more accurately directed to their objective through the information afforded for a substantial period by the extensive volume of water colored and sprayed by the impact of the projectile or projectiles that miss their objective.

Projectiles usually strike the Water downwardly, and at a high velocity, and the coloring charge must be of substantial volume and must be discharged instantaneously as otherwise the projectile will penetrate the water to such depth that little, if any, appreciable trace of the coloring will appear in the splash or upon the surface in time to be of value. The force of the impacted Water fractures the wall I at the predetermined and weakened places and areas represented by the members l2 and I4, and instantly expels the coloring charge from the fractured openings M which are of an area equal or in excess of the fractured water-entering opening l2. At sea projectiles that miss their objectives impact in the water, this invention affords unfailing means for detecting said point of impact for a substantial period and from a substantial distance.

The front relatively blunt end of cap 5, forming the rear wall of the coloring charge retaining chamber 7. enables said chamber to be made of substantial size in affording an efiicient streamline effect to the pigment containing wind-shield point of the shell.

The members l2 and I4 are moistureproof in themselves and are provided with moistureproof mountings in their respective openings II and 13 in order to normally prevent moisture getting into and deteriorate or drain the pigment content of chamber 1,.which is of importance due to the prevalence of moisture and the frequent long storage required of the shells before being used.

The members 12 and I4 each must not be ruptured by the force of discharge from the gun, and must be of such character and construction as to disrupt only by impact with water or other body, as otherwise the supplemental purpose of indicating the point of impact of a double duty shell, which forms the primary purpose of my invention, would be unattained, as in the instance of the color ejecting fuse not functioning of my said prior patent single purpose shell.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a projectile, a windshield at the forward end thereof provided with a normally closed aperture on the front of said windshield and a plurality of vents towards the rear thereof, said Windshield containing a coloring charge adapted to be ejected on impact with the water.

2. In combination with a projectile, a conical windshield secured to the forward end thereof provided with a chamber containing a charge of coloring material, a normally closed aperture in the front end of said Windshield and a plurality of normally closed vents at the rear of said windshield, said closures being broken on impact with the water whereby the coloring charge is ejected through said vents.

3. In combination with a projectile, a windshield secured to the forward end thereof, an aperture at the front of said windshield, a disk closing said aperture, a plurality of vents near the rear of said windshield, disks closing said vents, a coloring charge within the windshield,

said disks adapted to be removed onimpact with the Water whereby thecoloring charge is ejected "through the vents by the jet of water entering soluble coloring charge,'means for retainingsaid charge in said chamber during the firing and flight of the projectile; and means whereby, upon impact upon water, of said projectile, water enters said chamber and discharges said charge and colors the splash of and water surrounding said impact.

6. A projectile having at its forward end a chamber or cavity filled with a water-soluble coloring charge capable of coloring the splash produced by the impact of the projectile with a body of water and means whereby said coloring charge is released on impact with the water and completely scoured from the chamber by passage of water from the tip of the projectile rearwardly through the releasing means.

7. A projectile comprising a body portion, means for carrying a coloring charge with said projectile during its discharge and flight; and means whereby, upon impact of said projectile with water, impacted water courses through said first named means and discharges said coloring charge.

8. A spotting projectile consisting of any type of projectile having a substantial chamber in its body portion, a water soluble coloring matter filling said chamber; means at the front of said chamber for admitting Water thereto only upon impact of said projectile with water; a plurality of outlet means whereby said Water and coloring matter are discharged and means for normally sealing said last two named means.

9. A projectile having a hollow portion carried thereby with coloring material filling said hollow portion, an opening leading from the front portion of said projectile into the cavity of said hollow portion; a plurality of openings leading from the outer surface of said projectile into the cavity of said hollow portion; and means whereby said openings are normally sealed and whereby upon impact of said projectile with water the force of impacted water enters said front opening and discharges said coloring material.

10. A projectile having a hollow portion carried thereby with coloring material filling said hollow portion; and means whereby said hollow portion may be ruptured at a plurality of predetermined points solely by the force of impact of said projectile.

11. In an armor piercing spotting projectile, the combination of said projectile having a sheath of relatively softer metal surrounding its point; an element having a chamber of substantial volume; means for securing said element to the front of said sheath; coloring material filling said chamber; and means for ejecting said coloring material from said chamber and coloring impacted water solely by the force of impact with water of a projectile bearing said element.

12. In an armor piercing spotting projectile, the combination of said projectile having a sheath of at ve y softer metal; a chamber of substantial volume carried :by said .cprojectile and filled with coloring material; an opening. in thefront; of said chamber-and extending intothe cavity in said chamber; a plurality of openings about themriphery of sai'dchamber and extending into the cavity of said chamber; and means fornormally sealing said-openings with said chamber :full :of coloring material.

13. As a new article of manufacture for fire control for water-bordered targets, a wind-shield for projectiles :provided with coloring matter and adapted to impact with waterand provided with means whereby said matter may beejected directly-by the force with which said wind-shield may be impacted with water.

14. As a new article of =manufacture for fire control for water-bordered targets, an attachment for projectiles provided with coloring 'matter and adapted to impact with water, means for normally preventing the separation of said matter from said attachment, and means whereby said matter may be ejected directly by the force with which said attachment may be impacted.

15. As a new article of manufacture for fire control for Water-bordered targets, a hollow conical attachment for projectiles having a portion substantially at its point adapted to be fractured by the water impact of a projectile provided with said attachment and adapted to enclose coloring matter in said hollow, means near the base of said attachment adapted to be fractured by said impact, and means upon the base of said attachment for removably securing the same to a projectile.

16. As a new article of manufacture for fire control for water-bordered targets, a hollow conical attachment for projectiles having a plurality of fracturable portions some of which are disposed about the base of the attachment and at an angle to at least one of said portions which faces toward the front, said hollow being adapted to enclose coloring material and said portions being adapted to be fractured by the impact with water of a projectile provided with said attachment, and means upon the base of said attachment whereby the same may be secured upon the front portion of a projectile.

17. A projectile provided with a hollow frangible windshield, a charge of coloring material filling the interior of said windshield, said windshield being adapted to be broken by impact with water and said material to be intermingled with the impacted water.

18. A. projectile having at its forward end a chamber, a charge of water soluble coloring material filling said chamber, and means whereby upon impact with water the force of such impact directly projects the coloring material into the impacted Water.

19. In combination with a projectile, a windshield at the forward end of the projectile, a charge of colorin material within said windshield, and means whereby only a force of impact of the projectile with water releases the coloring material from the windshield and commingles the coloring material with the impacted water outwardly and rearwardly of the windshield.

20. A projectile comprising a body portion,

' means for carrying a coloring charge with said of a projectile and having a chamber of substantial volume therein, a substantial volume of coloring material in said chamber, means for normally retaining said material in said chamber, and means whereby upon impact with water of a projectile provided with said instrumentalities the force of said impact will directly remove coloring material from said chamber and color the impacted water.

22. As a new article of manufacture for projectiles adapted to impact with Water, an attachment for such projectiles comprising an element having a cavity therein of substantial volume adapted to be borne upon the nose of such projectile, coloring material filling said cavity, at least portions of the Wall of said cavity being adapted to be ruptured and the coloring material projected into impacted water solely by the force of impact with water of a projectile bearing said attachment.

23. As a new article of manufacture for projectiles, a hollow element attachable to a projectile, with coloring material filling said hollow, the wall forming said hollow containing said coloring material having separate portions fracturable by the impact of a projectile bearing said element.

24. As a new article of manufacture, a hollow attachment for the nose of projectiles, said hollow being filled with coloring material, a wall of said hollow attachment having a plurality of separate fracturable portions, some of which are at an angle to at least one of said portions which faces toward the front.

HARRY J. NICHOLS. 

